Friday, July 31, 2009

Arrowhead Arum

Arrowhead arum is a water plant hat prefers shade. That's why I had to remove it form the pond and put it in a more protected spot.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Canna

I found this beauty in an unlikely plae: our ACE hardware store.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Rainbow

Two nights ago, a complete rainbow and a double appeared in the sky.

I am still looking for that pot of gold. :-)

One of the birds flying home to roost on the island.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Live Oak

One of the venerable old live oaks draped with Spanish Moss and a group of Sabal Palms to the right, all of them right here in Legacy.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Wildflower

In my yard, this is a weed. In other areas, it is a wildflower. Do you happen to know its name?

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Backside

of our home seen from a walking path

Friday, July 24, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

View From a Room

View from the living room



The birds love the arbor, especially the mocking bird.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Find that Critter


Florida scrub jays post sentinels in the tree. Find all four of them.
Squirrels are a rare sight. Obviously, they have a few more predators than the squirrels back in NJ.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Gang

Florida scrub jays are endangered, but we have a large colony right here in Legacy. They are very fond of peanuts.

I would not have started feeding them, but when we went for a walk in their territory, they solicited us for food. Today, Maggie and I took a camera along.


Monday, July 20, 2009

Sandhill Crane Hideaway

Where do sandhill cranes sleep? Their previous nest is under water, but back here, the prairie is shallow. The cranes are the two black dots below the dry palm frond.
The same view

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Egret

The last straggler landed on a tree nearby.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Bird Colony

Our house has the large screened-in lanai (veranda) to the left of the white house with the dark roof.

Every evening, I see great white birds flying in from all directions: egrets. They congregate in one spot. Curious why, I got up early one morning to catch them before they disperse into their fishing grounds. Although the sun had not come up yet, they were long gone before I arrived. Only the ones whose territory is nearby slept in.

This island is their safe haven for the night.

Pink Sands

The famous pink sand beaches



End of Bermuda Trip

Friday, July 17, 2009

Space Shuttle Endeavour

Before
It happened yesterday, on July 15, 2009: I saw my first space shuttle launch live. From very far away, I admit, but it was live! This photo shows our backyard with the faint line of a vapor trail left by a plane.



During
Endeavour is heading from the woods to the clouds. You can only see its contrail (= vapor trail).

After Endeavour has disappeared into the sky.
A plane from Orlando leaves a new vapor trail underneath he old one and above the contrail left by Endeavour.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hamilton

Hamilton seen right from our cruise ship. The cloud behind the houses is from the fire in the power plan that knocked out electricity for the rest of the day.



Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Hamilton

Hamilton, roughly in the middle of the fishhook, is Bermuda's capital and largest town.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Bermuda Colors

White roofs which collect water into cistern, pastel colors, oleander and the blue ocean, this is Bermuda.

Check out the roof of the first photo all the way to your right.

The roofs have a sturdy open-batten structure which carries heavy limestone slates in mortar. They are overlaid laid in grooves that carry rainwater down to the cistern each house is required to have. Only a few modern apartment buildings have mainland roofs. None of the old roofs has ever been damaged by hurricanes.

Mouse over title for roof details.

Monday, July 13, 2009

St. George

St.George is lovely right on the harbor, a fact that allows cruiseship passengers to walk about about and to the beach without booking an excursion.


Sunday, July 12, 2009

St.George

Close to the harbor entrance
Welcome
The town of St.George

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Voyage

The Norwegian Whatever fits under the Verrazano Bridge.

A look back towards the Verrazano Bridge
Arrival in Bermuda. Check out the narrow entrance to St. George's harbor. The new megahips can only dock at King's Wharf at the other end of the Bermuda fishhook. We were lucky to get to dock at all three ports which avoided lengthy busrides all over the island.

All large ships have to wait for a pilot to arrive. Nobody is allowed to crash into a reef.